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From tearjerker romances to intense dramas, these critically-acclaimed independent films round out the platform's massive catalogue.

Photos: Everett Collection ; Illustration: Dillen Phelps

AWOLRotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
AWOL follows Joey, an aimless young woman who visits an army recruiting office and seems to finally find a path for herself there. Just when she thinks she has it all figured out, however, she meets a woman named Rayna, and the two fall in love in a way that neither could have predicted. Authentically emotional, AWOL is a breathtaking, poignant portrait of first love.
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Before MidnightRotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
The third film in Richard Linklater's talky trilogy finds duo Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) nine years since our last encounter with them, now living in Paris with their twin daughters. On the invitation of a colleague of Jesse's, the family spends the summer in Greece, but when the vacation ends and Jesse's son heads off to the states, everything he used to know is thrown up into the air as he questions the life he's become accustomed to.
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Don't Think TwiceRotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
Keegan-Michael Key, Chris Gethard, Gillian Jacobs, and a slew of other ridiculously funny people star alongside Birbiglia in this fresh, honest take on what happens when one member of a friend group achieves success and the rest of the gang is forced to reevaluate things. This heartfelt exploration of the friendship, humanity, and the reality of dreams in the world of comedy written by and starring Mike Birbiglia knocks it out of the park in more ways than one.
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MudboundRotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
Directed by Dee Rees, this riveting, sweeping drama follows two men as they return home to Mississippi from World War II and find themselves struggling with post-war life and the racism that surrounds them. Starring Carey Mulligan, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Mitchell, and a slew of other wildly talented stars, this stunning, timely film may very well be the best title Netflix has ever put out.
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The BabadookRotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
Amelia is a single mother still trying to navigate the world after her husband's violent death and her son Samuel's fear of monsters in their house. When Amelia reads a picture book about the eponymous 'Babadook' to Samuel, she too begins to feel the fear of monsters as he jumps off the page and into their lives. The brilliant, unsettling film takes on uncharted territory in a chilling, mind-boggling manner.
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TangerineRotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
Directed by The Florida Project's Sean Baker, this iPhone-shot dramedy follows Sin-Dee, a transgender sex worker recently out after a 28-day prison sentence hellbent on finding the pimp who cheated on her and broke her heart. Smart, funny, and groundbreaking, Tangerine will surprise you in more ways than one.
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BoyhoodRotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
Shot over 12 years with the same actors, there's an honesty to Richard Linklater's film that's rarely seen on screen. This gorgeous coming-of-age drama follows Mason's life from early childhood to his arrival at college and all the bumps on the road along the way. Featuring career-best performances from Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke, Boyhood understands what it means to grow up.
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CreepRotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
This insane found-footage film from Mark Duplass follows Aaron, a freelance videographer who responds to a vague Craigslist ad from Josef (Duplass) seeking someone to film something for him. As the two spend time together and Josef's true colors are revealed, Aaron realizes that he may have gotten a lot more than he bargained for. While you may be used to seeing Duplass in some more mumbly settings, his turn in this flick will change your opinion of him forever.
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HeathersRotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
This quintessential '80s high school flick was actually a box office bomb before it became a cult classic. Starring Winona Ryder as a popular girl striving to break out of her clique by any means necessary, Heathers earned praise from critics and has only become more cutting with the passage of time. The film also features an early performance from Christian Slater, at the height of his floppy-haired, angsty teen idol status.
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NightcrawlerRotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
Jake Gyllenhaal stars in this bonkers neo-noir thriller as Louis Bloom, a very determined man who will do just about anything to get what he wants. When he fights his way into the world of Los Angeles crime journalism, he begins to overstep his boundaries and endanger the lives of those around him to get the perfect shot. Gyllenhaal's crazy eyes might just haunt your dreams after watching this one - keep a light on.
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WeekendRotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
This fresh drama takes the "could a one-night stand be something more?" concept and explores it more intimately than most films out there, and the results are incredibly moving. After leaving a house party one night, Russell heads to a gay club, where he connects with another young man named Glen. While the two have their reasons for hesitating to get involved, they evidently decide to entertain the idea and go for it.
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MargueriteRotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
Set in Paris in the 1920s, this film follows Marguerite Dumont, a wealthy woman who loves opera - but can't sing to save her life. Despite this, she loves to sing for her friends, and with her husband, they continue to allow her to live out her fantasy of performance. Things change, however, when she begins performing in front of real audiences, and the rest is history.
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Pulp FictionRotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
Four tales, primarily centering on two hitmen, intersect as characters all seek their respective redemptions. The all-star cast and snappy dialogue make this neo-noir a one-of-a-kind thrill - Quentin Tarantino's modern classic starring Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta is electrifying, darkly funny, and violent as you'd expect.
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MilkRotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
This breathtaking biopic sees Sean Penn star as Harvey Milk and documents Milk's role as a gay activist and as the first openly gay man to be elected to a notable public office. While some flicks of this nature may get caught up in trying to capture too big of a picture, Milk examines his romantic and political relationships and tragic assassination with a grace and patience that few biopics rarely achieve.
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Fruitvale StationRotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
Helmed by Ryan Coogler (who is also directing the upcoming Black Panther) and starring Michael B. Jordan, Fruitvale Stationis a showcase for harrowing, honest performances and authentic storytelling - a true showcase of what it means to be an indie film. The harrowing drama tells the true story of Oscar Grant, a young man shot by San Francisco transit police in 2009 on New Year's Day.
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PariahRotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
Directed by the wildly talented Dee Rees, this affecting, raw drama depicts a lesbian teen from Brooklyn who must hide her sexuality from her religious parents while beginning to share it with her friends. Full of beautiful performances and a universal message of the longing we all feel to be accepted, appreciated, and loved, Pariah is truly unforgettable.
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Blue JayRotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
There's something devastatingly magical about Blue Jay, a beautiful black-and-white drama that meditates on lost love and the things that haunt us. The always-amazing Sarah Paulson and Mark Duplass star as former high school sweethearts who, after a chance encounter, reflect on the connection between them that still stands, and a regret that they can't quite move past.
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Boogie NightsRotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
Featuring Mark Wahlberg in a career-best performance, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, and an incredible ensemble cast, Paul Thomas Anderson's 70s-set masterpiece is unlike anything else out there. On the quest for adult film greatness, this ensemble experiences some ups, downs, and terrible trips - and may just lose a few members in the process.
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Moonrise KingdomRotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
Helmed by Wes Anderson, this offbeat story of young love depicts two pre-teens who decide to run away together from their New England hometown. The disapproving adults who will do whatever they can to stop our two young lovers from being together, but Suzy and Sam won't give up. Rife with innocence and wit, Moonrise Kingdom is a quirky youth romance you're bound to fall in love with.
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Howards EndRotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
Think Harry Potter boasts the most big British actors on the same screen? Think again. Emma Thompson, Anthony Hopkins, and an all-star slew of performers from across the pond round out the cast in this 1992 drama that follows a husband that refuses to accept his wife's deathbed wish. Full of unexpected romance, drama, and moral differences, Howards End might just move you to places you may not predict.
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